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Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector visa (subclass 576)

Visa Warning Message

This visa closed for new applications on 1 July 2016

Features

Visa Summary Features

The Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector visa (subclass 576) lets you study a full-time course of any type in Australia if you are sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence.

Requirements

Visa Summary Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are an international student sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence.

Page Content

About this visa

You can no longer apply for the Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector visa (subclass 576). It closed for new applications on 1 July 2016. From 1 July 2016, if you need to extend your stay in Australia, you must apply for a
Student Visa (subclass 500).

Visa holders

This information is for people who have already been granted a Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector visa (subclass 576) or for people who applied for the visa on or before 30 June 2016 and for which a decision has not yet been made. It explains your rights and obligations.

How long your visa lasts

If you already have a Foreign Affairs or Defence Sector visa (subclass 576), it will be valid until the expiry date you were given when your visa was granted.

What this visa lets you do

With this visa:

you can study in Australia

eligible dependant family members can accompany you to Australia

when you have commenced your course of study in Australia, you can work up to 40 hours per fortnight while your course is in session and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. You can work unlimited hours if you have commenced a masters or doctorate course. You must also comply with State and Territory workplace laws

your family members can work up to 40 hours per fortnight provided you have commenced your course of study in Australia

your family members can work unlimited hours provided you have commenced a masters or doctorate course

your family members who are 18 or older can study in Australia for up to three months. If they want to study for more than three months they must apply for their own student visa. The application can be made in Australia.

Obligations

Student

You must comply with your visa conditions while studying and living in Australia or your visa could be cancelled. You must also comply with Australian laws.

Students under 18 years of age

If you are under 18 years of age you must maintain your accommodation, support and general welfare arrangements for the duration of your visa or until you turn 18.

Changing your education provider

If you do want to transfer to a different education provider, you must have a letter of support from DFAT or Department of Defence stating that your transfer has been approved by them.

'No further stay' condition

Some visas are issued with a 'no further stay' condition. This condition means that you cannot apply to stay in Australia beyond the date specified on your visa, except in certain circumstances.

Report changes in your circumstances

You must tell us if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.

Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms: